High pressure test plug



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' HIGH PRESSURE TEST PLUG Filed May 4, 1943 Afm/wey',

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Patented May 1, 1945 o UNITED s'rines- PATENT -oFPicB t l fmonrnaszsstitrss'rrmc j Y l u t `Will`iam` M. Nicholson., deceased, lateof Ashland;

K-y., by Mary S. Nicholson, executrin Charleston, W. Va., assigner toGene Le Roy, Charleston, W. Va.

` Application May 4, 1943, Serial No. l$5,671

This invention relates to high pressure test plugs, designed for se intesting pipes, tubes or similar tubular objects,` the primary object ofthe invention being to provide a test plug which may be readily andsecurely held within a pipe, or tubular member to be tested, sealing the,pipe or object under test, so that it may be subjected to excessiveinternal pressure. r'

An important object of the invention is to provide a test plug oi thischaracter embodying ex-` panding sections adjustable with respect toeach other, and so constructed Vthat when the sections aremoved't'owards each other, the rubber sleeve, surrounding the sectionsand forming a part of the plug, will be` expanded into yclose engagementwith the pipe or tube under test. o

Another object of the invention, is to provide means for securelyholding the plug within the pipe or tube under test, against being blowntherefrom when the vobject under test is subjected to excessivepressure. i

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

which will appear as the description proceeds, the

invention resides in the l,combination and ar- 7 rangement of parts andin the details ofcon` struction hereinafter described and claimed, itbeing understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the inventionherein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed,without departing from the spirit of the inven tion. Referring to thedrawing: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a pipe,illustrating a high pressure test plug positioned therein, sealing theend of the pipe.

l4 claims. (ci. iss- ;so)

2 ofthe drawing. This structure insures a true movementof one sectionwithrespect tothe other when the sections are moved with respect to`each' other in expanding the rubber sleeve l0 which surrounds bothsections. The outersurface oi` the section l taperscorrespondinglywlthVthe tap-ered portion 3, the tapered portions of the sections providingseats for thefs'leev'e l0. At

the outer ends oi the tapered portions oi the sec- 0 tions, grooves IIare provided in which the ends ci the rubber sleeve rest, securing therubber sleeve, insuring-against movement of the rubber sleeve I0longitudinally, with respect to the secf tionsoftheplug.

l The section is formed with athreadedbore l2, and areduced threadedbore I3, the threaded bore I2,being designed to receive the threaded iend I4 of the tubular stem I5 intermediate the ends thereof, is anannular flange I8 that engages the movable jaws I9 that r, arepositioned between the flange and outer end Figure 2 is a longitudinalsectional view through a pipe and test plug constructed in accordancewith the invention, illustrating the positions of the various elementsof the plug, prior to positioning the plug for sealing. I

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3`3 v0f Figure 1. i

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 designatesone end of a pipeto be tested, and in which the test plug, forming theessence of the present invention, is positioned. f

The test plug embodies sections 6 and 1, which are circular in crosssection, `and are of diameters slightly less than the diameter of thepipe or tubular object with which it is used, in completing a highpressure test.

The section 6 is formed' with a tapered portion 8 that merges into thestraight portion 9 that iits into the section 1, as clearly shown byFigure of the section 1 of the plug, as clearly shown by Figure 2. Thesejaws are formed with cutout portions at their inner ends, the cutoutportions being of widths so that the jaws will t over the tubular stem.Coiled springs 20 have their ends connected tothe jaws at points nearthe biting edges of the jaws, so that the springs will act to draw` thebiting edges of the jaws inwardly towards each other, under normalconditions. Teeth 2l are formed in theouter ends of the jaws and areadapted to bite into theinner wall of the pipe or tubular object undertest, embedding themselves within the surface of the object in such awayas to hold the test plug in position, under excessive pressure.

The `inner ends of the jaws I9 bear against the` flange I8, with theresult that when the tubular stern I5 is rotated, in a clockwisedirection, the inner ends of the jaws will be forced downwardly, and theouter ends thereof will be forced into engagement with the inner Wallr0i the pipe or object under test. The hand wheel indi-` cated bythereference character 22 is secured to one end of the tubular stem l5, andallords means whereby the stem I may be rotated by the operator.

As shown, the tube I6 is provided with threads 23 to which a suitablethreaded nozzle from an air supply hose, may be secured in supplying airunder pressure, to the pipe in which the test plug has been positioned.

In the use of'the plug, the plug is positioned within the pipe ortubular object to be tested, in a manner as shown by Figure 2 of thedrawing. The hand Wheel 22 is now rotated in a clockwise direction,causing the tubular stem I5 to be fed into the section 6 of the plug.With the movement of the tubular stem I5 into the section 6, the annularange I8 exerts pressure against the inner end of the jaws I9, causingthe jaws to expand and bite into the inner wall of the object undertest. As the jaws I 9 move to their securing posi tions, it will ofcourse be obvious that the section 6 is drawn toward the section 1, thetapered portions of the sections moving `over the inclined surfaces ofthe vrubber sleeve I 0, expanding the sleeve into close engagement withthe surface of the object and providing an airtight seal therebetween.Air or hydraulic pressure may now be directed to the interior of theobject under test,.subjecting the object to excessive air or hydraulicpressure in making the test.

What is claimed is:

l. In a high pressure plug, a body comprising a pair of tapered sectionsmovable with respect to each other, an expansible sleeve having innerinclined surfaces mounted on the tapered body sections, a tube threadedin one of the sections and adapted to move the sections of the plug overthe inclined surfaces of the sleeve, expanding the sleeve, a pair ofyjaws mounted on the tube adjacent to one end of the body, coiled springsconnecting the jaws and adapted to normally move the jaws inwardly,means on the tube for moving said jaws whereby the jaws bite into thewall of an opening in which the plug is positioned, securing the plugagainst movement.

2. In a high pressure plug, a body comprising a pair of` telescopingsections having tapered outer surfaces, an expansible sleeve mounted onthe plug and engaging the plug throughout substantially the entirelength of the plug, said sleeve adapted to extend into engagement withthe Wall of an opening, sealing the opening, a tube connected with thebody, a pair of jaws having notches adapted to straddle the tube,springs connected with the jaws adjacent to the outer ends thereof andadapted to normally hold the outer ends of the jaws inwardly, and a angeon the tube adapted to engage the j aws, moving the jaws into engagementwith the wall of the opening in which the plug is positioned.

3. In a high pressure test plug, a body portion comprising a pair oftelescoping sections having tapered outer surfaces, a tube on which thetele-- scoping sections are mounted, a flexible sleeve having a taperedbore, mounted on the tapered surfaces and engaging the plug throughoutsubstantially the entire length of the plug, said tapered surfacesadapted to expand the sleeve into engagement with the, wall of the pipein which the plug is positioned, when the sections of the plug are movedtowards each other, sealing the pipe, a pair of pivoted jaws mounted onthe tube at one end of the body portion, springs connected with the jawsadjacent to the outer ends of the jaws and adapted to normally draw theouter ends of the jaws inwardly, an annular flange on the tube adaptedto engage the jaws moving the jaws outwardly, and said tube adapted tooperate to expand the exible sleeve and simultaneously move the jawsinto biting engagement with the pipe, securing the body portion withinthe pipe.

4. In a high pressure test plug, a body portion comprising a pair ofsections movable with respect to each other, one of the sections havinga substantially straight end merging into a tapered portion, saidstraight end being tted in one end of the cooperating section, anexpansible sleeve tted over the sections and adapted to expand when thesections of the plug are moved towards each other', means for moving thesections with respect to each other, and means for securing the plugagainst movement within an opening,

MARY S. NICHOLSON. Eccecutria; of the'Estate of William M. Nicholson,

Deceased.

